Mixed martial arts or MMA (mixed martial arts) is an interesting fighting sport that combines various martial arts disciplines from all over the world. Contemporary MMA fighters need to be proficient in hitting, slamming, and grappling. To start practicing MMA, you must apply to a college and hone the skills you learn with consistent practice. With dedication and the right skills, you can train and compete at a high level.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Applying for a Martial Arts College
Step 1. Decide on the fighting style you want to learn
If you want to be a good fighter, you have to develop good hitting and kicking skills. The types of stand-up fighting that are most often used in MMA are boxing, Muay Thai kickboxing, taekwondo, and karate. Pay attention to fighters who practice the type of martial arts you are interested in to help determine the style you want to pursue.
- Muay Thai focuses on punches, movement in the ring, and kicks.
- American boxing focuses on hitting.
- Karate and taekwondo focus on kicks and punches.
Step 2. Decide what type of wrestling (ground fighting) you want to practice
Hitting skills must be balanced with grappling and slinging skills if you want to become a formidable fighter. Common styles of wrestling include Brazilian yuyitsu, judo, Greco-Roman wrestling, and American wrestling.
- Brazilian yuyitsu practitioners focus their skills on taking advantageous grappling positions, accompanied by strangling and locking opponents.
- Judo specializes in locking and throwing opponents.
Step 3. Search the internet for information about martial arts colleges in your area
Do an internet search and look for colleges, dojos, and clubs that offer boxing or martial arts training in your area. See if you can find an MMA college that teaches both hitting and wrestling. If no school teaches a mix of different martial arts, you may need to go to more than one school to learn wrestling and hitting skills.
- If you don't live in a big city, you may not be able to learn certain martial arts styles. However, you must remain flexible.
- Look for information about various MMA colleges in Indonesia through the internet.
- For example, if there is no MMA college near where you live, enroll in kickboxing and yuyitsu schools separately.
Step 4. Watch self-defense instruction videos if your options are limited
If you don't have a martial arts or wrestling college in your area, complete the exercises with online instructional videos. Do a search on the internet and look for instructional videos made by professionals and watch the videos to fill in your training gaps.
Nothing beats in-person training
Step 5. Contact a martial arts college and schedule your first workout
Once you've found a suitable college, contact the college and schedule your first practice. Some colleges offer free trial classes if it's your first time doing the exercises.
When you call the college, say something like "Hi, I've never practiced before, but I'd like to sign up for training. When will the beginner training resume, and how much will it cost?"
Step 6. Get the equipment you need to do the first workout
Usually, you will be asked to have a mouth guard. Other colleges may ask you to buy a gi (uniform) or other combat gear. For your first workout, you may have to wear a regular sweatshirt and shorts, but be sure to ask your coach if there are certain things you should wear.
- Other combat equipment includes gloves, hand wraps, shin guards, and head protection.
- If you don't have any equipment, ask if you can borrow equipment from them.
Method 2 of 3: Undergoing First Practice
Step 1. Be polite and humble
Everyone has been a beginner at some point. So, they know what it's like to be a beginner in MMA. People go to college to learn and want to be a better fighter. So, don't act like a whiz so you don't make a bad impression the first time you practice. Be nice to the people you meet, maintain a positive attitude, and take advice.
Step 2. Listen to all instructions from the trainer
When you start the exercise, follow all the instructions given by the trainer. Otherwise, you could injure yourself or others. Pay close attention to everything the trainer says and try to practice the moves exactly as they are taught.
Step 3. Measure yourself
During the first few exercises, you may have an urge to prove something, but you shouldn't do it. It may be tempting to train at full intensity as soon as you hit the mat or get into the ring, but this will tire you out and not be able to continue your workout. Don't forget to take deep breaths and try practicing the movements taught and practicing the techniques. Do not let you spend all your energy.
Step 4. Don't be too hard on yourself and stay positive
If you're not experienced in martial arts, there's a good chance you'll be sparring against someone with experience. Don't expect you to put on a great fight if you've never practiced before. You may have to spend a lot of time training hard before you can display good fighting skills. Always keep this in mind so you don't get discouraged.
Method 3 of 3: Hone Skills
Step 1. Learn the basics first
To be a good MMA fighter, you need to be good at basic hitting and grappling techniques. Some of the basic types of strokes include the hook (short circular stroke), jab (short straight stroke), straight (punch straight, long forward), and uppercut (punch from the bottom up). Also learn basic pushes and roundhouse kicks. In wrestling, you'll need to learn different positions and how to perform basic moves such as the armbar (locking your opponent's arms), triangle choke (locking your neck with your legs in a triangle), and rear naked choke (throwing your neck from behind). Do some practice to master these basic techniques before you move on to more complicated techniques.
Step 2. Practice regularly
Practicing regularly will keep your skills sharp and your body in shape. Don't stay out of practice for too long when you're just starting out. Do the exercises at least 3 times a week and measure yourself how often you can train in a week.
Step 3. Don't overtrain
It's normal to feel pain, but don't overdo it. If you are physically exhausted, in excessive pain, or injured, stop exercising and allow your body to recover. If there is not enough time for your body to recover, you will become weak and less focused. Fatigue, weakness, decreased performance, and persistent muscle aches are some signs that you've been overtraining.
Step 4. Do a sparring against a college friend
Practice sparring is part of the practice to test technique against friends. Feel free to exchange punches and kicks with friends. When sparring, think about the end goal you want to achieve, such as making a smooth turning kick, or improving your jab range.
- Practice to perfect the basics of combat against moving targets, and don't forget to measure yourself.
- The purpose of sparring is to perfect the technique, not to injure the opponent.
- Good etiquette in sparring is to shake hands with the opponent before and after practice.
- Your workout buddy will usually try to adjust to your intensity. So, you will get something that suits your abilities.
Step 5. Do rolling with classmates
Rolling is practicing the technique of grappling with a friend without involving a punch. Wrestling can be tiring, and it requires a lot of endurance, so you should take the time to practice and measure yourself. Practice getting out of tough situations, gaining advantageous fighting positions, and trying different submission techniques.
Step 6. Do strength and conditioning exercises
While it's important to practice and practice technique, you should also do exercises to increase your strength and endurance. Squats, deadlifts, and bench press exercises combined with running, jumping rope, and stretching will make you stronger, faster, and more flexible. Schedule one or two days a week for strength and conditioning training along with technical training.
Step 7. Enter the amateur competition
Be sure to research fighting sports in your area before entering a competition so that you are aware of all applicable rules and regulations. When you are ready to fight, usually the college or coach will help you register for an organized competition. Consult with them and decide what kind of competition or fight you want to enter.
Step 8. Follow a healthy diet
Keep track of what you eat by keeping track of the different foods you eat throughout the day and calculating your calorie and nutrient intake. Do not let you lack fluids, and consume foods that contain lots of protein and carbohydrates. If you're training hard, aim to eat 1 gram of carbohydrates and protein for every 1 pound of your body weight (1 pound = 0.45 kg). The food you eat should also contain lots of omega-3 fats, as well as natural vitamins and minerals.
